Co-existence and conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims in the 16th century Ottoman Istanbul

Abstract

The attempt of the Ottoman administration to confiscate the Orthodox churches in Istanbul in the 16th century is frequently cited in current historiography. However, transformation of this incident into differing versions throughout centuries prevented many historians from analyzing the issue in detail. For this reason this study attempts to analyze the development of the story, first. The most important aspect of the issue blurring the mind of many historians is the reason behind the decision of the Ottoman administration to confiscate the churches. The reason should be looked for not in the attitude of the sultans towards Christians but in the evolution of the city from its Byzantine period onwards. As a result of the population explosion in the 16th century, Muslim and non-Muslim neighborhoods intersected, and this created a painful course, which iv turned co-existence into a painful process.